SANTIAGO: Chile took another step towards their dream of winning a first Copa America on home soil with a 2-1 win over fierce rivals Peru on Monday but Eduardo Vargas’ match-winning double was overshadowed by an early refereeing decision that turned the game the hosts’ way.

Carlos Zambrano’s harsh sending off for a high tackle after 20 minutes was the second game in a row that Chile’s rivals have been hit with controversial red cards.

The decision was a hard one to swallow for Peru, who in spite of being underdogs had started well in front of a capacity crowd at Santiago’s National Stadium.

“I think Zambrano’s expulsion was a bit tough,” Peru striker Paolo Guerrero told television cameras. “I don’t want to complain about the refereeing but there were a lot of unexpected decisions. If it had been 11 against 11 it would have been a different story.”

Chile’s opponents in last week’s quarter-final, Uruguay, were reduced to nine men in controversial fashion with Edinson Cavani and Jorge Fucile being sent off in Santiago.

Cavani’s red card came after Chile defender Gonzalo Jara stuck his finger up the striker’s backside and when he responded with the slightest of touches Jara fell to the ground theatrically, prompting the referee to send the Uruguayan off. Chile got the decisive goal shortly after.

Jara later had a three-game ban for provoking Cavani cut to two by the governing body of South American football.

Chile were heavily favoured to advance but struggled throughout the match against their continental neighbours until Vargas lashed in a stunning 64th-minute strike as the hosts advanced to the final for the first time since 1987, when they lost to Uruguay.

Vargas, who endured a miserable season on loan at relegated English Premier League side Queens Park Rangers, had given Chile a controversial lead after 42 minutes, prodding home from close range after the referee’s assistant failed to spot a fractional offside.

Peru played most of the match with 10 men after Zambrano was sent off for hitting midfielder Charles Aranguiz on the back during a challenge but came back bravely to force an equaliser through a Gary Medel own goal in the 60th minute.

A Chilean fan is helped after being sprayed by water cannon, fired by riot police dispersing celebrating fans, following Chile’s victory over Peru in the Copa America semi-final.—Reuters

But Vargas, who also had a legitimate goal wrongly ruled out for offside early in the second half, restored Chile’s lead with a contender for goal of the tournament.

The 25-year-old picked up a loose ball in midfield, surged forward and unleashed a ferocious dipping 30-yard effort that flew into the top corner past Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese.

“I’ve been practicing shots from outside the area, I was confident,” Vargas said through a translator. “I’m glad it went in.”

Chile will now play the winner of Tuesday’s semi-final between Argentina and Paraguay as they chase a first ever Copa America crown after 99 years of failure.

Peru had been the surprise of the tournament after advancing from a group that included Brazil and Colombia and were trying to win their third Copa America and first since 1975. They also lost in the semi-finals in 2011 to eventual champions Uruguay and finished third.

“We leave with a sour taste after the elimination, we wanted to reach this final,” Peru coach Ricardo Gareca said. “It’s very difficult to play a man down for so long against a team of this level.”

The Chileans have been dominant from the start of this year’s tournament, playing at home with its best team in years. But Peru made it difficult for the hosts at the Estadio Nacional on Monday, threatening several times on counterattacks even after going a man down.

“The ejection seemed to hurt us more than it hurt them,” Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli said. “The anxiety turned against us and we ended struggling.”

The latest instalment of Chile and Peru’s long football rivalry — known as the “Clasico del Pacifico” — burst into life after only four minutes, when Chile’s Arturo Vidal tangled angrily with Zambrano.

Vidal was fortunate to escape at least a booking for thrusting a hand in Zambrano’s face as tempers threatened to boil over.

Moments later, Venezuelan referee Jose Argota moved to nip the tensions in the bud, showing Zambrano a yellow card for tugging down Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez.

Yet while Chile made the brighter start, it was Peru that came closest to scoring in the opening minutes, with Jefferson Farfan’s header from a Guerrero cross cannoning back off the woodwork and refused to cave in after Zambrano’s dismissal.

But just when it looked like the teams would go in all square at half-time Chile took the lead when Vargas poked the ball home from three yards after an Alexis Sanchez cross had come back off the post.

Television replays showed Vargas was marginally offside, but justice seemed to be done seconds into the second half when he had what looked like a legitimate goal chalked off for offside.

Peru equalised when Medel tried to intercept a right-side cross by Luis Advincula and put it into his own net. Their celebrations were short-lived though as Vargas lashed home an unstoppable strike from 30 yards.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2015

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